Circularity-driven urban quietness as an indicator of sustainability

The concepts of noise and quietness are multidimensional, contradictive and retain a degree of fuzziness. Their notion expands between the physical dimension of sound to a phenomenological/perceptual construct. The perception of noise as a sound of high-intensity or as an unwanted sound has shaped the concept of quietness as an urban sound design goal overlooking ecological co-benefits. The main purpose of this research is to highlight the symbiotic relationship between urban quietness and sustainability. More specifically, actions of circular urban development, including green walls and electromobility were modeled, to highlight their effect on the sound environment of a Mediterranean coastal medium-sized city. Following the guidelines provided by the CNOSSOS-EU road traffic noise model, the effects of the aforementioned sustainability actions were visualized by means of noise mapping. The results indicate that a noise level reduction of approximately 4 dB(A) could derive with the implementation of circular urban development measures.